Peach Co. Commissioner Accused of Over Spending

Peach County Commissioner Michael Dinkins says he's done nothing wrong in spending the county's money. Former Peach County Commissioner, Jimmy Walker, believes Dinkins has abused spending rights, a move that hurts the county in a tough economic time.

"$40-thousand, that should have been a couple, 3 or 4 thousand dollars. So to me we wasted $36-thousand and how was it going to stop if someone didn't bring it up," said Walker.

Walker wants answers as to why current commissioner Michael Dinkins was allowed to spend roughly $35-thousand in travel and training since 2009. After filing an open records request at the county office, Walker compiled a report of the travel and training spending of all the commissioners. According to the Walker's report Dinkins spent around 5 times more than the next highest commissioner.

Dinkins says he's done nothing wrong.

"I have never done anything that's outside of the policy," said Dinkins.

 

According to the county office, the previous travel and training policy for the commissioners did not limit the spending amount. It only dealt with procedure.

Last week the board established a new travel and training spending policy for commissioners. Beginning in 2012 each board member, with the exception of the chairman will receive $2400 total, $1800 for travel and $600 for education. The chairman will receive $2700 total, with $2100 for travel and $600 for education.

Jimmy Walker believes the new policy will keep commissioners from attending too many meetings.

"You can't go to every meeting. It's just not feasibly possible. You just don't have the budget to do it," said Walker.

Dinkins justifies the training trips with the Association County Commissioners of Georgia and Georgia Economic Developers Association, by saying his trips are for the people and will bring economic progress.

"I’m trying to put Peach County on the map to make us stronger and make us a viable entity in the future, I have to go where the money is," said Dinkins.

Training took Dinkins across the state from Atlanta, Savannah, and Jekyll Island and even further to places like Baltimore, Maryland and Reno, Nevada.

According to the county administrator, the board of commissioners will meet Thursday at 5:30 to decide what should be done before the new travel and training policy goes into effect in October.